Madrid and Barcelona blaze cup trail

Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona cruised into the Copa del Rey round of 16 thanks to straightforward home victories on a night when Olympique de Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain FC reached the French League Cup semi-finals.

After a goalless first leg a fortnight ago, five different players were on target as Madrid defeated Real Murcia 5-1. Two of those goals came in the final five minutes from Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso despite Álvaro Arbeloa's dismissal moments earlier. Barcelona followed up their 2-0 first-leg victory against AD Ceuta by also winning 5-1, Lionel Messi completing the scoring against the ten-man visitors midway through the second half. Elsewhere, Sevilla FC, Villarreal CF and Club Atlético de Madrid all progressed.

In France, Marseille came from behind to defeat AS Monaco FC 2-1 at the Stade Vélodrome, while PSG did likewise in a 3-1 victory against Valenciennes FC. They are joined in the last four by Montpellier Hérault SC − 2-1 winners at LOSC Lille Métropole − and AJ Auxerre, who overcame AS Saint-Étienne on Tuesday.